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Kieran Gibbs injured against Sunderland

Kieran Gibbs is determined to overcome his injury problems this season and follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, Gael Clichy and Ashley Cole, who were such a success at left-back for Arsenal.

"I learned a lot from Gael when I was behind him and I always watch the top left-backs like Ashley," the 22-year-old says. "I try to see how they play but also add my own game into that.

"But when you look at Gael and Ashley, they're always fit. I want to be a regular starter like them."

The fitness issue is one that has haunted Gibbs for the past couple of seasons. He missed six months of the 2009-10 campaign with a broken metatarsal, suffered three separate injuries in the first half of last season and then had to sit out this summer's European Under-21 Championships due to an ankle problem.

And although he has played in nine of Arsenal's 13 games this season, Gibbs suffered an inflammation of his stomach muscles in the 2-1 win over Sunderland on Sunday, making him a doubt for tomorrow night's Champions League encounter with Marseille at the Stade Velodrome.

"I've struggled in the last two years with bad injuries so I want to get as many appearances as possible this season and reach a high level of performance," he says. "When you play regularly you improve."

The defender, born in Lambeth, is one of Arsenal's youngsters who, alongside Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (18), Aaron Ramsey (20), Emmanuel Frimpong (19), Theo Walcott (22) and the injured Jack Wilshere (19), represent the future of the club after the summer departures of Clichy, Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

"All of the young guys know each other well and we enjoy playing together so we'll be happy if we can achieve things together," he says.

If Arsenal's Premier League season so far has fallen below the club's own high expectations, Gibbs believes the match with Marseille offers a return to the competition in which they have given the most accurate account of their true quality and potential.

"Beating Udinese home and away to qualify proved this squad's ability and, although we were drawn in a very difficult group, we've got off to a really good start," Gibbs says. "The opening tie away to Dortmund (1-1) was hard but we showed great spirit and were unlucky not to win. We then beat Olympiacos (2-1) and seeing Alex score showed the talent in this team."

Arsenal, who are second in Group F, have qualified for the knockout stage in the last 11 seasons and Gibbs says the team feel at home in Europe. "Our style is well-suited to European football," he explains.

"The best teams in the world play passing, attacking football so, although we're all disappointed with our start to the domestic season, we need to stay true to our values. If we can find our best form in Europe there is no reason why we can't do well and kick-start our Premier League campaign."

Arsenal are 10th in the League and face a side, who despite being runners-up in Ligue 1 last season and boasting the attacking threats of Andre Ayew, Loic Remy, Mathieu Valbuena and Lucho Gonzalez, have also struggled domestically, lying 14th in their division. Marseille, though, top Group F after a 1-0 win away to Olympiacos and a 3-0 victory over Dortmund. Gibbs says: "It will be tough but we feel confident."

The defender, who began his career as a midfielder, scored his first goal for the club in the Carling Cup against Shrewsbury last month.

"It was special for me because my grandad would have turned 80 around that day," he says. "It was a shame I couldn't celebrate it more because we were losing 1-0 but I'd like to get more goals this season. If you look at the best left-backs in the modern game, they all attack. In modern formations, there are a lot of rotations and interchanges so if I can get forward it gives the team extra options."

Much has been written about the departures of Fabregas and Nasri but Gibbs harbours no animosity.

"Obviously, we became an easy target when the players left but we've made some excellent signings," he says. "I wish all the best to the players who left because they served their time at Arsenal really well and the players who have come in will do the same.

"Per [Mertesacker] speaks the language well and is a good organiser. Mikel [Arteta] and Yossi [Benayoun] have Premier League experience so they settled really quickly. The other players might take longer but they have started well. Gervinho looks very dangerous. It's nice to see new faces at the club and it has brought a new energy."

The £6.2million signing of Andre Santos from Fenerbahce means Gibbs faces extra competition for the left-back slot but he is unflustered. "It's up to me to prove I should play, so any competition is good," he says.

Gibbs says his friends and family have kept him level-headed during the team's disappointing start to the season. "Football can seem like a matter of life or death but it's important to keep everything in perspective," he says.

Having made his England debut against Hungary in August 2010, Gibbs knows the best way to get noticed by Fabio Capello ahead of Euro 2012 is by staying fit and helping Arsenal to turn their season around.

"I really want to be an England player and play at World Cups," he says. "I have a lot of career ambitions, but first I need to play regularly and prove I can be part of a successful team with Arsenal."

Kieran Gibbs was speaking on behalf of Thomas Cook Sport, official travel partner of Arsenal. Secure your seat at any Arsenal home game with a Thomas Cook Sport Match Break by visiting thomascooksport.com or calling 0844 800 9900